I recently passed the 1-year milestone in my Business Administration Apprenticeship at ZiaBia – a year which has seen ZiaBia transition back into live events after Covid-19, deliver events all across Europe, and grow to a team of 7!
Let’s take a closer look at how this year played out…
My first week
My first week on the job coincided with a large charity gala dinner being delivered by ZiaBia at the iconic Roundhouse in Camden. I joined the on-site team, and was involved all the way from set-up and event delivery through to de-rig.
My first 2 months
My first 2 months involved a heavy focus on virtual events. I learnt how to operate a variety of online event platforms, and assisted with the delivery of a virtual conference.
I also took on responsibility for managing supplier relationships, as part of this, I attended an agency-supplier workshop. There I met representatives from a range of venues, hotels and convention bureaux. This enabled me to start to build those all-important relationships.
My first 6 months
With live events back in full swing, I was involved with:
- on-site delivery for 3 events
- attended The Meetings Show at ExCel in London
- talking to suppliers from across the events industry
- listening to a keynote speech from Sir Sebastian Coe!
- my college work was well underway
- as part of my personal development, I passed the Microsoft Excel Associate exam
My first 12 months
One year into my apprenticeship, I have now been on-site for 7 events, have met with over 40 supplier and venue contacts (virtually and in-person), have uploaded over 100 social media posts for ZiaBia, and the team has recently welcomed 3 new starters!
What have been my highlights?
We often talk about the satisfaction of seeing an event through to completion. Having had a year in my apprenticeship, I have now been able to share in this experience. The stand-out being a 21-venue European roadshow! I supported from the initial venue research through to the final event in Zurich 7 months later!
Working at an award-winning events agency has given me an opportunity to learn events management from the best. Being a smaller company, I have been able to work closely with and learn from each member of the team. I have more responsibility as I have settled into the role. I took the lead on an internal project as part of the college element of my apprenticeship.
What have I learned?
Working at ZiaBia marked a significant change from my previous experiences in part-time work and academic environments. This has encouraged me to develop more of a team-oriented mentality. I have learnt to be a clearer communicator, and to be proactive in anticipating the needs and expectations of my colleagues.
My ability to adapt has improved, whether this is in my communication style or in my working practices. I now pick up the phone rather than email and have developed efficient processes to suit different events.
The apprenticeship has taught me the importance of attention to detail. The time we invest in ensuring the consistency of our product pays dividends in the overall quality and professionalism of our work as an events agency.
